Mine safety apparatus



Jan. 5, 1965 A. F. ROSS 3,164,079

MINE SAFETY APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOR. Away A 055 BY WM ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 5, 1965 A. F. ROSS MINE SAFETY APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1965 vlllllldill INVENTOR. 424 040 f. E055 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,164,079 MINE SAFETY APPARATUS Arnold E. Ross, 2448 7th St, Columbus, Qhio Filed Apr. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 273,837 4- Ciaims. (Q1. 985tl) This invention relates to a mine safety apparatus and relates more particularly to a conduit means extending through all of the tunnels of a mine and having a plurality of emergency stations positioned therealong.

A primary object of the instant invention is to provide a mine safety apparatus which is simple to operate, requiring no tools and providing emergency necessities at any location within the mine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mine safety apparatus including means for withdrawing a poisonous gas from a particular station within the mine systern.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an emergency mine safety apparatus including means to carry air, water and communications to miners trapped within a portion of the mine by falling rocks, an explosion or the like.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a mine safety apparatus having branch conduit means extending along each of the tunnels of the mine system and a plurality of emergency stations positioned along the branch conduit means, with each station including means for withdrawing poisonous gas therefrom, and means for supplying trapped miners with air, water and communications.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus of the type described further including identification means at each of the stations so that the position of an individual such as a trapped miner can be readily communicated to persons exterior to the mine.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of an emergency mine safety apparatus which is air and vacuum tight throughout its length and which may be manually opened at any of a plurality of stations.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a particular construction for allowing the supply of air, water and communications at any of a plurality of emergency stations, while maintaining the system air and vacuum tight except at the specific location where it is being utilized.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of such a sealed system which may be readily opened at any of its stations without the necessity of any mechanical aid such as tools or the like.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide an improved mine safety apparatus which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, utilize and maintain.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of a mine incorporating the safety apparatus of the instant invention, with parts broken away for illustrative convenience;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the emergency stations, partly in section, and with certain hidden parts being shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of one of the means for supplying water taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

3,164,?9 Patented Jan. 5, R965 "ice FIGURE 5 is a schematic View showing the apparatus of the instant invention as it would be utilized to remove a poisonous gas from a portion of the mine, with parts broken away for illustrative convenience;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 7--7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the means for supplying communications to each station taken substantially on line 8-8 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 99 of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged side elevational View, partly in cross section of a sealing means for maintaining the means for providing water and the means for providing communications in sealed air and vacuum tight relationship.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in general and more particularly to FIGURE 1, a mine is designated generally by the reference numeral and is shown as including a vertically extending shaft 22 and a plurality of horizontally extending tunnels 24, 26 and 23 communicating with the shaft 22 at various levels within the mine system. It is to be understood that the mine can include any number of mine shafts and any number of tunnels, the system shown being merely illustrative. A building or office 30 is located exteriorly of the mine 20 and receives one end of a main conduit means 32 extending through the shaft 22 and having branch conduit means 34, 36 and 38 in communication therewith and extending into each of the tunnels 24, 2s and 28, respectively. A plurality of emergency stations 44) are positioned along each of the conduit means 24, 26 and 28 and are so spaced that at least one station it? will be available in every section of the mine system, particularly in case of a disaster such as a cave-in or the like which entraps a group of miners in a remote portion of one of the tunnels. Y

The main conduit means 32 and each of the branch conduit means 34, 36 and 38 are comprised basically of a heavy gauge galvanized pipe, the latter elements extending preferably along the fioor 41 of each of the tunnels 24, 26 and 28, respectively. 7

As seen particularly in FIGURE 2, each of the emergency stations is comprised basically of a means for providing air and vacuum designated generally by the reference numeral 42, a means for providing water designated generally by the reference numeral 44, and a means for providing communications designated generally by the reference numeral 46.

The means 42; for providing air and vacuum to each of the stations 40 includes an air and vacuum outlet comprised of a T-fitting 43 having an internally threaded opening 5% defined therein in communication with the interior of the branch conduit means. A plug member. 52 is externally threaded at 54- for engagement in the threaded opening and a high viscosity grease material (not shown) is provided on the threads 54 to allow the plug member 52 to be engaged in the opening 5% by hand and yet to seal the opening 5th in air and vacuum tight relationship. A cap member 56 is hingedly secured at 58 and extends over the air .and vacuum outlet to protect the same. Any conventional manually operable latch means may be provided on the cap member 56 if desired, however, no latch means are necessary, a mere gravity closure being sufficient under most circumstances. An identification means such as the plate 60 may be included internally of the cap member 56 to facilitate immediate transmittal of the position of the particular emergency station 4th being utilized. As shown in FIG- 3 URE 2 the station is identified by a number which, for example; may indicate that it is the eighth station in the third level tunnel.

When the plug member 52 is removed from the openring 50 a flexible conduit means -62 may be secured therein such as by conventional clamping means shown in FIGURE 6 including a threadable sleeve 64 and a manually operable clamping device 65. Any number of sections of flexible conduit ozrmay be connected as shown at 68 in FIGURE and the remote end of the flexible conduit means 62 is connected to a vacuum head 7t? comprising a substantially open topped box-like member apertured at 72 to receive the flexible conduit means 62 and adjustably supported by a telescopic standard '73 to raise the same Within the tunnel, a plurality of pins 74 or the like,which may be vertically adjustable, spacing the vacuum head 79 from the roof 76 of the tunnel. A suction may then be drawn through the main conduit means 32 and the branch conduit means 3% to wi'thdraw a poisonous gas or the like from a pocket in the tunnel through the vacuum head 7d, the flexible conduit means 62 :and the air and vacuum outlet 42. If desired, fresh air may be supplied through'the same system, after it has been cleared of poisonous gas. A suction means and an air blower may be provided in the building 3% in communication with the main conduit means 32.

The means 44 for supplying water to each of the emergency stations 40 is seen particularly in FIGURES 2-4 and comprises basically a Water outlet formed by a T- member 78 having an internally threaded opening Sb. A water supply line 82 extends through the branch conduit means 38 and the main conduit means 32 to a source of water supply in the building "39, and a branch Water line 84 projects therefrom through each Water outlet 78, conventionalrnanually operated petcock means 86 being provided on the free end of each branch Water line 84 to normally stop the flow of Water therefrom. An externally threaded plug member 88 is received in the threaded opening 8%? and has an aperture defined therethrough including a conical lower portion Sit and an internally threaded upper portion92. An apertured conical, sealing member 94 shown particularly in FIGURE lOis formed of a malleable material such as lead or the like and is received in the conical portion 90 of the aperture in the plug member 88. An externally threaded apertured pressure member 96 is received in the internally threaded portion of the aperture in the plug member 83 in pressing relationship with the sealing member 94. The branch .water line 84 passes through the aperture in, the sealing member 94 and the aperture in the pressure member 96 and when the latter member is tightened it forces the former member into air and vacuum tight engagement with the branch Water line 84. A cap member 98 is hinged at 105 and extends in protecting relationship to the water outlet 78.

The means 46 for providing communications tov each of the emergency stations 4% comprises basically a communications outlet including a T-fitting 162 having an internally threaded opening 1M therein. A communications supply line 106 extends through the branch conduit means 38 and the main conduit means 32 to a telephone means or the like positioned exteriorly of the mine such as in the building 30. \A branch communications line 108 extends :firom the communications supply line at each emergency station 41 and has a free end projecting through the internally threaded opening M and having a conventional jack means such as a male or female plug 110 engageable with a second telephone means (not shown) to establish communications to the building 39. In a manner similar to the means 44 for providing Wavter, the means 46 for providing communications is sealed in air and vacuum tight relationship by providing an externally threaded plug member 112 receivable in the internally threaded opening 194 and having an aperture extending therethrough with a conical lower portion 114 and an internally threaded upper portion 136. An apertured malleable sealing member 118, similar to the sealing member 94, is received in the conical portion of the aperture in the plug member 112 and an externally threaded apertured pressure member 12% is received in the internally threaded upper portion thereof. The branch communications line 1% passes through the apentures in the sealing member 118 and the pressure member 28. The conventional communications system of the mine may also be carried by the safety apparatus of the instant invention and may have leads 122 projecting from the communications openings at various convenient locations and operatively engaged with any conventional communications equipment. However, it is important to have a separate emergency system operable independently of the conventional communications system so that direct contact may be immediately accomplished from a position of danger to the mine office in the building 36. A cap member 124- hinged at 126 is also provided for the protection of the communications opening and functions similarly to the cap members 56 and 98 described hereiubefore.

It has been found that in order to provide an air and vacuum tight sealing relationship in each of the means 4-4 and 46, it is necessary for the sealing member 94 or 118 to have the sides thereof forming an angle of at least 25 degrees with respect to the base. it is important to maintain each of the means 42, 44 and 4-5 in air and vacuum tight sealing relationship at all of the emergency stations id except the one in use. In this manner, if an individual plug member 52 is removed rorn one of the air and vacuum outlets in the system, the vacuum pulled or the air supplied will not escape through other emergency stations dil The use and operation of the apparatus of the instant invention will now be apparent. The basic structure including the main conduit means, each of the branch conduit means, and all of the emergency stations will be installed as soon as the mine is opened for use. An individual inspector or the foreman of a work crew Will carry with him the vacuum head 74} with its telescopic standard 73, some sections of flexible conduit means 62 and a telephone means openably connectable to the jack member Illil. If an inspector discovers a pocket of poisonous gas at any location in the mine system, he may quickly lift the cap member 124, plug in his telephone means and inform the mine ofiice in the building 36 of his location and his need for a vacuum. Then, by removing the plug member 52 and attaching the flexible conduit means 62 thereto, the pocket of poisonous gas may be withdrawn through the branch and main conduits immediately relieving a possible source of future danger. Likewise, if a cave-in or other mine catastrophe entraps a group ofminers in a remote portion of one of the tunnels, the foreman can immediately follow the same procedure as described before for the inspector to remove any poisonous gas from the tunnel and then can have fresh air pumped in through the same outlet. Water is available through the means 44 and trapped miners may be sustained for an extended period of time while rescue operations are carried on. By identifying the location of the emergency station near which they are trapped, the miners will provide the rescue teams with information sufiicient to facilitate their operations.

It will now be seen thatthere is herein provided an improved mine safety apparatus which satisfies all of the objectives of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A safety apparatus for use in a mine having a shaft and at least one elongated tunnel with a floor and a roof and communicating with said shaft comprising a main conduit means having an end extending through said shaft to the exterior of said mine, a branch conduit means extending along said tunnel and having one end in communication with said main conduit means, a plurality of emergency stations positioned along said branch conduit means, means for providing air and vacuum to each of said stations from the exterior of said mine, means for providing water to each of said stations from the exterior of said mine including a water outlet secured to said branch conduit means at each of said stations, a water supply line extending through said branch and main conduit means to a source of water supply exterior of said mine, branch water lines extending from said water supply line and having a free end projecting through each of said water outlets, manually operable petcock means secured to said free end of each of said branch Water lines, each of said water outlets including a T-fitting having an internally threaded opening defined therein, an externally threaded plug member receivable in said opening, said plug member having an aperture defined therethrough including a conical portion and an internally threaded portion, an apertured conical sealing member formed of a malleable material receivable in said conical portion and an externally threaded, apertured pressure member receivable in said internally threaded portion in pressing relationship to said sealing member, said branch water line extending through the apertures in said sealing member and in said pressure member.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conical sealing member includes side portions and a base portion, said side portions disposed at an angle of at least 25 degrees with respect to said base portion.

3. A safety apparatus for use in a mine having a shaft and at least one elongated tunnel with a floor and a roof and communicating with said shaft comprising a main conduit means having an end extending through said shaft to the exterior of said mine, a branch conduit means extending along said tunnel and having one end in communication with said main conduit means, a plu rality of emergency stations positioned along said branch conduit means, means for providing air and vacuum to each of said stations from the exterior of said mine,

means for providing communications to each of said stations from the exterior of said mine including a communications outlet secured to said branch conduit means at each of said stations, a communications supply line extending through said branch and main conduit means to a first telephone means exterior of said mine, branch communications lines extending from said communications supply line and having a free end projecting through each of said communications outlets, means engageable with a second telephone means operatively secured to said free end of each of said branch conduit lines, each of said communications outlets including a T-fitting having an internally threaded opening defined therein, an externally threaded plug member receivable in said opening, said plug member having an aperture defined therethrough including a conical portion and an internally threaded portion, an apertured conical sealing member formed of a malleable material receivable in said conical portion and an externally threaded, apertured pressure member receivable in said internally threaded portion in pressing relationship to said sealing member, said branch communications line extending through the apertures in said sealing member and in said pressure member.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said conical sealing member includes side portions and a base portion, said side portions disposed at an angle of at least 25 degrees with respect to said base portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 956,306 4/10 Dawson 98SO X 1,005,196 10/11 Gold et a1. 9850 X 1,456,808 5/23 Lowe 98-50 X 3,118,363 1/64 Burgess 9850 FOREIGN PATENTS 524,876 2/56 Italy.

539,876 2/56 Italy.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY APPARATUS FOR USE IN A MINE HAVING A SHAFT AND AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED TUNNEL WITH A FLOOR AND A ROOF AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SHAFT COMPRISING A MAIN CONDUIT MEANS HAVING AN END EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SHAFT TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID MINE, A BRANCH CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING ALONG SAID TUNNEL AND HAVING ONE END IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID MAIN CONDUIT MEANS, A PLURALITY OF EMERGENCY STATIONS POSITIONED ALONG SAID BRANCH CONDUIT MEANS, MEANS FOR PROVIDING AIR AND VACUUM TO EACH OF SAID STATIONS FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID MINE, MEANS FOR PROVIDING WATER TO EACH OF SAID STATIONS FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID MINE INCLUDING A WATER OUTLET THROUGH EACH OF SAID BRANCH CONDUIT MEANS AT EACH OF SAID STATIONS, A WATER SUPPLY LINE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BRANCH AND MEANS CONDUIT MEANS TO A SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY EXTERIOR OF SAID MINE, BRANCH WATER LINES EXTENDING FROM SAID WATER SUPPLY LINE AND HAVING A FREE END PROJECTING THROUGH EACH OF SAID WATER OUTLETS, MANUALLY OPERABLE PETCOCK MEANS SECURED TO SAID FREE END OF EACH OF SAID BRANCH WATER LINES, EACH OF SAID WATER OUTLETS INCLUDING A T-FITTING HAVING AN INTERNALLY THREADED OPENING DEFINED THEREIN, AN EXTERNALLY THREADED PLUG MEMBER RECEIVABLE IN SAID OPENING, SAID PLUG MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE DEFINED THERETHROUGH INCLUDING A CONICAL PORTION AND AN INTERNALLY THREADED PORTION, AN APERTURED CONICAL SEALING MEMBER FORMED OF A MALLEABLE MATERIAL RECEIVABLE IN SAID CONICAL PORTION AND AN EDTERNALLY THREADED, APERTURED PRESSURE MEMBER RECEIVABLE IN SAID INTERNALLY THREADED PORTION IN PRESSING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID SEALING MEMBER, AND BRANCH WATER LINE EXTENDING THROUGH THE APERTURES IN SAID SEALING MEMBER AND IN SAID PRESSURE MEMBER. 